Music?

Okay, I'm daring to write another post. Only because I know there are just so many avid readers that want to keep up on such a riveting blog. Let's see... What is new?

I'm working on a song right now called In Need of You. I have most of it finished except a bridge and a couple places that need rewording. I'll post it up here when I'm done though. I've also been doing some recording too with my new microphone! I recorded the song Come to an End the other day and made a myspace for some silly reason. For some reason though, I currently have ninety-four plays on that song. I have no idea who would want to listen to that song so I'm assuming that myspace has a glitch or that people are unknowingly stumbling upon a random person who's only friend is Tom. Anyways, I'm working on a recording of All That Isn't You which I'll put up as soon as I record the vocals which I will do as soon as I get over this little cold. So yeah... That's what I've been up to.

You've just been UPDATED!

Too late to reschedule

I don't like having to go to bed early to wake up to Physical Geography....

Random Sentences

So it has definitely been awhile. I haven't really had anything I felt like writing so I'm just gonna say whatever. Right now I'm sitting in my room. The weather right now feels like a battle between fall and winter. Autumn fights to stay alive but it is gradually succumbing to the cold. The leaves have have pretty much all fallen. Hmmm... I've been playing a good amount of guitar lately trying to write songs. Every time I sit down planning on writing a song I get in the right zone but quickly lose all creative movement. I'm not sure why that is... I've been doing a lot of design stuff though. Here is one of them I've been working on lately:

Ready or Not

So being in college is a pretty crazy new step. I've been meeting a lot of people and having fun. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in this newness. I still have those nostalgic moments though. In one of those moments I was thinking about my sister Gabby and how much I miss her and all the things we used to do. So this song might be cheesy but it's just how I felt..


Ready or Not
We're coming to a new step
Whether ready or not
Things have got to change, dear
Whether ready or not

So know you'll never leave
My memories
So take this melody
With you

Strength seems to follow you
Wherever you go
Let Him be all of you
Let it overflow

[Chorus]

We're coming to a new step
Whether ready or not
Things have got to change, dear
Whether ready or not

Ready or not
Ready or not
Ready or not
Ready or not...

See ya later, Alli-gator (yeah, cheesy)

Tonight I said goodbye to my good friend Allison Joy (I don't remember her middle name but it should be Joy) Steddom. From being the first thing I hear when entering a mile radius of her, to turning around at Dunns and randomly seeing her standing behind me, she has always been a dear friend and close to me. Alli is probably one of the best advice givers I know. She always had a question to throw out and I would realize that I hadn't even asked myself that. I'm definitely going to miss her sense of humor. I'm excited to hear how Indiana treats her and hope she continues to share her endeering laugh and contagious heart for Jesus with everyone she meets.

(I just had to throw this one in)

Very Random Thought

If you could
control the
weather,
what
days
would
you
choose
to be
bad?

Passions at War

I love my guitar. It's sort of pathetic but when I go a day without playing it I feel like I'm missing something. For me, the guitar is like an emotion sponge that absorbs all of my highs and lows. When my fingers touch those strings I suddenly start to feel everything around me fade away. I'm not very good compared to a lot of people but it doesn't matter. I often find myself in my room blaring my acoustic through an amp and singing unwritten songs at the top of my lungs. Who knows if it sounds good... Actually we have thin walls so my family can usually hear it.. Anyways, there are so many times throughout the day, no matter where I am, that I think of song ideas or a melody or lyrics. People who know me can testify to my obnoxious singing and random interjections that are beside the point. I sing, play, write, and listen to music a lot.

But wouldn't it be so great if this post was about my Bible?

I love my Bible. I don't read it as often as I would like or even as often as I should. I sometimes go to it when I am stressed out or upset. I should yearn for this book. I should turn every page with awe at the wonders that are beheld. God's word should always be on my heart and my lips just as music sometimes tends to be. When I look up at the first paragraph I imagine what it would be like to truly be fervent and boiling for Christ. That the walls of this world could not hold the resonating sound of my love for Christ. But so many things like fear and distractions get in the way. We all have passions that are at war within us. We need to continually feed the fire that burns for Jesus. I need to continually feed the fire that burns for Jesus. Because what he did deserves our gratitude and what he does deserves our attention.

This is home (I guess)

I've been away for a month now but I am finally back. It's a different feel somehow. America seems different. My accent seems lame. No more waking up to the marvels of being sandwiched by amazing sights. I feel like I was spoiled being surrounded by mountains, the sea, spectacular cloud displays, and farms. I know this country has its own appeals but I miss those of Northern Ireland. It's also different because during the trip everyone was constantly moving and now I'm home with no schedule. A restlessness inside of me wants to open the door and step out onto the streets of Kilkeel and go on a dander along the fields. Yeah, I'm being dramatic. But now that I'm home, I have to get used to it. Almost more so than when we started the trip. With what we were doing in Northern Ireland, God's work and presence were pretty much right in front of my eyes the entire time. Now that I'm home and getting back into the routine, I have to do a little searching.

Unconditionally

Today I heard an analogy of when we come to God with our works and try to show it to him. I won't repeat the analogy but I really thought it was interesting to think about. We find these works and hold them up to God to show him so we can feel good about ourselves only to find that it is nothing in comparison to His perfection. That God's unconditional love takes precedent over all works is amazing. Sometimes I do things that I feel makes me a Christian, forgetting the simple fact that what I do doesn't decide my eternity. It is where I put my faith and trust. Solely leaning on Jesus' name that saved me from sin.

In The Passenger Seat at Sunset

My mind has been strange lately. A constant playlist of questions, emotions, and thoughts. Sometimes it gets so loud in there that I can't turn it down. Always racing, searching the depths of my memories and knowledge. But then I catch a glimpse of the sky. The clouds, the sun, the reflective light, the transparencies, the blue, the golden, the white. All the factors combine to collectively make a mind-melter that blows away the problems and distractions and I realize that I am staring at the raw and beautiful glory of God.

We're either riders or fools behind the reigns..

Ok well I'm finally getting a separate blog upon Gabbymac's persistent requests. The name of the blog might seem kinda strange but it is one of the beloved lines in the song The Cure for the Pain by Jon Foreman. "Blood is fire pulsing through our veins, we're either riders or fools behind the reigns". The first time I heard that it sparked new thoughts. Which one am I? There are obviously different weights to both sides in various aspects of my life. I often see moments in my life where I fall short and don't make it. A fool behind the reigns doesn't take charge of the situations they have fallen into. They glide along ignorantly laughing and enjoying the ride wherever it may be heading. Maturity means taking those events and leading them where you want them to go. That is something that I have been searching for lately. Not just a new, older, and smarter take on humor, relationships, friends, and money but a new outlook on how to deal with situations. I still see traces of that youthful, somebody-get-me-out-of-this-mess, attitude in me. I just need to let go of those things and take the reigns and steer. Which brings to mind another song: Steer by Missy Higgins. Oh boy, it's only the first blog post and I've already quoted two of my favorite musicians.. Anyways, part of the chorus goes "And now you finally know that you control where you go, you can steer."

With all that said, I can't "steer" by myself. As Michael would say, I'm directionally challenged. And I fall down a lot. I don't really want to end this with the cliche phrase of how I continue to fall down and he picks me up... But it's true. I even overlook that fact too often. Grasping the truth that God is in control is huge in gaining a better understanding in maturity.


Beau